1. What should the school/college do? Call 999
Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Pathway
Emergency medical help needed to preserve life - recent overdose or dangerous self-harm. Police help may be needed if child has absconded expressing suicidal ideation.
What should the school/college do? Call 999
Suicide risk? Follow WSCB guidance 'What to do if you believe a child or young person is at risk of suicide'
What can the school/college do? Significant weight loss should be assessed urgently by a GP first to rule out a physical cause Contact CAMHS-SPA on for advice and for a decision on the urgency of the mental health need After 5pm, contact the out-of-hours GP service by dialling NHS 111 
Urgent mental health support may be needed for serious mental health crisis (eg. psychosis), or serious weight loss and signs of an eating disorder.
(NB: children/young people with significant learning disabilities may express their mental health needs as aggressive behaviour - be prepared to contact the Police and refer to LD CAMHS for an urgent appointment via CAMHS-SPA).
Specialist support to meet significant mental health needs: '…NEED FURTHER HELP‘ A few children/young people will show signs of significant mental health problems that are impacting on activities of daily life, preventing them functioning within the norms for their age. These may be persistent and of a moderate to severe nature, causing significant difficulties with their achievement and relationships.
What can the school/college do? Continue to use school-based interventions to support the pupil, following advice from the CAST team (Consultation, Advice, Support and Training) – contact them at CAMHS-SPA and discuss making a referral to specialist CAMHS. Consider referring to an Educational Psychologist.
Specialist CAMHS
Single Point of Access (CAMHS-SPA): Tel:
What can the school/college do?
Be alert to signs of emerging emotional problems; use data and evidence-based tools to assess and identify pupils who need targeted school-based interventions (see good practice checklist in the schools’ emotional wellbeing toolkit). Use the Single View of the Child system to see who else is working with the child or family. Refer to the school health nurse or school counsellor. Speak to CAST. Consider Kooth.com or refer to R4W
Kooth.com Self-referral for on-line emotional wellbeing support and counselling
Targeted support to meet additional needs: '…MAY NEED SOME EXTRA HELP’ Some children/young people show signs of emerging mental health problems and/or are struggling with their emotional wellbeing, with problems outside the normal range for their age or gender and of a mild to moderate nature. These will be starting to cause difficulties with their school work, friendships or family relationships.
Reach 4 wellbeing (R4W) NHS service for face to face emotional wellbeing support
Safeguarding risk? If you are worried a child is in immediate danger contact the Police on 999.
If you are concerned a child or young person may be in need of protection or safeguarding, or the family needs family or parenting support, complete a Cause for Concern form Out of office hours (5:00pm to 8:30 am weekdays and all day weekends/bank holidays) contact the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on
Universal level: '…COPING WITH LIFE‘
Most children and young people thrive and cope with the 'normal' difficulties and challenges of life and of growing up. They usually cope with these through their own resilience, with the support of family and friends and of their school.
What can the school/college do?
Promote an emotionally healthy whole school environment, following the 8 areas of good practice in the good practice checklist within the school’s emotional wellbeing toolkit.